The Dogs of War (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

The Cardassian rebellion headed by former Legate Damar (Casey Biggs), suffers a severe blow when Damar is stranded with Garak (Andrew J. Robinson) and Kira (Nana Visitor) on Cardassia Prime and the rebel bases are destroyed. The Dominion proudly announces the crushing of the rebellion and the Cardassian Union names Damar's replacement, Legate Broca (Mel Johnson, Jr.). Damar, Garak and Kira hide in the home of Mila (Julianna McCarthy), Garak's former caretaker. With the encouragement of Kira, the three bomb a Jem'Hadar barracks, where Damar reveals to the people that he is not dead, as Dominion propaganda claimed. He then calls upon the Cardassian populace to rise up against the Dominion. Even though the organized military resistance is gone, a massive civilian revolution begins.

On Deep Space Nine, Quark (Armin Shimerman) receives a message from Grand Nagus Zek (Wallace Shawn), apparently informing him that he has been chosen as Zek's successor upon his imminent retirement. Upon a visit from his old rival Brunt (Jeffrey Combs), he discovers that Zek, presumably under the influence of Quark's mother Ishka (Cecily Adams), has instituted a number of reforms, including promoting workers’ rights, environmental protection and outlawing monopolies. Quark is so disgusted by these violations of old Ferengi tradition that he threatens to turn down the job. Upon Zek's arrival to name his successor he discovers that he was never the intended heir of the Grand Nagus; it was Quark's brother Rom (Max Grodénchik). Quark is still extremely unimpressed and in a monologue swears to turn his bar into a refuge for the old unrestrained capitalism that was symbolic of his Ferenginar, though he admits that his brother is better suited to be the leader of a new Ferenginar.

At Dominion headquarters on Cardassia, the Female Changeling (Salome Jens), Weyoun (Jeffrey Combs), Broca and the Breen Representative Thot Pran note the Federation has overcome the Breen weapon and resolve to make a strategic withdrawal, hoping that the Federation and its allies will leave them alone long enough for them to rebuild their fleets. Despite their position, they still believe in a final victory. Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) anticipates this; he and Chancellor Martok (J. G. Hertzler) press for a final assault to be launched upon Cardassia Prime to end the war. Admiral Ross (Barry Jenner) and the Romulan representative reluctantly agree. Later that day, Sisko's wife Kasidy (Penny Johnson Jerald) tells him that she is pregnant and she is concerned by a warning from the Prophets that Sisko, as the emissary, must walk his path alone; Sisko attempts to comfort her.

This is the 8th (and last) appearance of Brunt and the 30th (and second last) appearance of Weyoun, recurring characters played by Jeffrey Combs since season 3 (Brunt, "Family Business") and season 4 (Weyoun, "To the Death"). This was the only episode to feature both but there are no scenes with both characters present.

The episode title "The Dogs of War" comes from Act 3, Scene 1, line 273 of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, where Mark Antony says "Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war.".[2]

This received Nielsen ratings of 3.7 points, just under 3.7 million viewers when it was broadcast on television in May 1999.[3] As of 2018, TV.com rated the episode a 9.0 out of 10 on 138 user inputs.[4]

This episode is notable for the station getting a replacement for the USS Defiant.[4] The USS Defiant has been noted in reviews of fictional spacecraft of Star Trek.[5][6] The combat power of the Defiant is noted, and also its replacement the USS Sao Paulo, which was renamed but is of the same class of vessel after the original is destroyed.[5]

The fictional Star Trek spacecraft, the USS Defiant was destroyed several episodes prior, in "The Changing Face of Evil", and was not used in the intervening episodes.[7][8] The USS Defiant is a highly regarded design of the franchise, featured both in special effect sequences and numerous interior sets in the show.[9] It appeared in 67 episodes of the television show Star Trek : Deep Space Nine and the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact.[9]

This episode has been reviewed as one of a seven episode story arc starting with "The Changing Face of Evil" and concluding with the last episode of Star Trek:Deep Space Nine:[10]

• "The Changing Face of Evil"
• "When It Rains..."
• "Tacking Into the Wind"
• "Extreme Measures"
• "The Dogs of War"
• "What You Leave Behind" (Two-part series finale)

In 2018, CBR ranked these seven episodes as the #1 episodic saga of Star Trek.[10]

In 2016, The Washington Post called the Dominion war story arc possibly the "richest narrative" of the Star Trek universe.[11]

• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine DVD set, volume 7, disc 6, selection 4

Wikiquote has quotations related to: "The Dogs of War"

• "The Dogs of War" on IMDb
• "The Dogs of War" at TV.com

• "The Dogs of War" at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)

• "The Dogs of War" at StarTrek.com